2500 can’t pull a trailer

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crash68

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Only a $10,000 diesel would fix this.
Not necessarily for the OP's trailer, depending on the front profile I'd probably still be at/above 16mpg with my EcoD. With my 17' boat (3200 lbs) I'm close to 20 mpg. It's the wind drag of the trailer that clobbers the fuel efficiency not so much the weight.
 

teammontana

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Based on the weight and size of the trailer, that truck shouldn‘t even know it is behind it. If it is a really steep hill, maybe. Just a thought, sounds like it may be lacking fuel or air under load. Based on what you have replaced I am assuming you already have checked that, but on my diesel that is what I feel when the fuel filter is getting old. many other things can cause lack of power but a flat cam can act like it is running great but has no power.
 

392DevilDog

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Based on the weight and size of the trailer, that truck shouldn‘t even know it is behind it. If it is a really steep hill, maybe. Just a thought, sounds like it may be lacking fuel or air under load. Based on what you have replaced I am assuming you already have checked that, but on my diesel that is what I feel when the fuel filter is getting old. many other things can cause lack of power but a flat cam can act like it is running great but has no power.
He never said there is a lack of power. He says it uses 3rd gear. It is a 5spd trans. It is gonna use 3rd gear

And 11mpg in a 3rd Gen 2500 with a Hemi....that is pretty good.

3rd gear is the same as the 8spd using 5th.

Guys with the 1500 5th Gen RAM are not getting getting much more than 11 mpg empty grocery getting.

As you can see in my pics my 2015 is getting 11.7. That is because I have been "trying to get more" it involves alot of coasting. usually in the winter you will be lucky to see 9 with my short commute and band practice pickups, quick trips to the grocery store

And I am pretty sure my 03 actually says 6.75 mpg right now on it's evic. As we do not drive it much.

11 mpg and 3rd gear are pretty normal.

If everything was replaced and he got a head of steam for the hill...he should lock out OD when towing and might see 11.5 and maybe 4th for a bit.

I do not think he has an issue. Given what he has told us.

He needs a smaller vehicle or a transmission with more gears...which still will be the same but different.

We just took a trip in our Cherokee. 9 speed auto. Up through the hills in PA on Route 36. I bet it never saw 9 th. Rarely if ever in 8th. Maybe 7th going down hill. I bet the majority of the trip it was in 5th 4th and 3rd. Some hills...even 2nd
 
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Based on the weight and size of the trailer, that truck shouldn‘t even know it is behind it. If it is a really steep hill, maybe. Just a thought, sounds like it may be lacking fuel or air under load. Based on what you have replaced I am assuming you already have checked that, but on my diesel that is what I feel when the fuel filter is getting old. many other things can cause lack of power but a flat cam can act like it is running great but has no power.
You have a diesel, his is a 5.7 ...did you read the first post ? ....
 
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My 2017 8-speed 5.7l w 3.92s pulls my 8k trailer fine through the mountains here in the west. I could only DREAM of getting 11MPG while towing. I run up a hill going out of Cedar City, UT up to Duck Creek Village that climbs from ~5k altitude to 9k altitude in 15 miles (some 8% and 9% grades), and it hits 3rd regularly. I like to keep it right at about 4k RPM. I shoot for RPM not speed when pulling up a hill, I get whatever speed I get, as long as its not over the limit.
 

Jon1704

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I have an 04 2500 with the 5.7 and I tried to pull a 12’ trailer and I had to down shift to 3rd to stay above 40 going up hills. I have replaced plugs and coil packs 12k miles ago and 1 O2 sensor and map sensor within the past 1k and just replaced the tb without anything changing and help would be appreciated.
I had an 04 2500 with the 5.7 yea mine was limp pulling hills but it did only have 345 hp I ordered it new with the 5sp manual trans . If i would have test droven one first i would have stuck with the 1500 just my 2 cents worth
 

1dbcoleman

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Come on people I have the 5.7 mega cab I had to turn that enginein to a 6.4L with a cam and anything I could throw at it to get it to tow decent. A 5.7 hemi at the wheels is only putting down 260hp max. All the work I've done and we only get 355hp and 397tq to the wheels on a dyno. These motors are not big enough over all. The old magnums are even worse. We like the trucks because they look good and that's about it.
 

1dbcoleman

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I get 400 tq to the wheels in my mega cab. I have taken it across scales many. It is 7200 lbs so it does take a lot of power. I get about 7mpg towing and could get 13 at 70mph not. It's a tough life owning a hemi truck. You gotta really want them.
 

1dbcoleman

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Some pics of the work done to make it run
 

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dhay13

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2500 6.4L Hemi 4.10's 'Off-Road'
So is this engine bored and stroked to 392 ci? Adding a cam and bolt ons doesn't increase the cubic inches. Had a friend back in high school that had a 1966 Buick Skylark with a 310 I believe. He threw a 4bbl carb on it and told everyone it was now a 340 cause that was the only difference...lol

But yeah that engine looks good.
 

Sandevino

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With my 2020 6.4L towing 8000# in Texas (flat to moderate hills) I would get 11 - 13 mpg.

With my 2021 EcoDiesel and the same trailer, same flat land and hills I get 18mpg.
 

RayL

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I had a 2006 1500 with the same engine. It had 4 speed only and had to use 3rd often when in hills, pulling a 28' TT weighing about 7500 lbs. That's one of the reason I purchased a new Laramie 1500 with 5.7 and 8 speeds. Tranny made all the difference in the world. I never pull in high gear and typically use 6 an 7 depending on the roads. Works fine for me. Typically cruise at 1900 to 2100 RPM, up hills at 2500 to 3000.
 

lazer

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It's funny my wife was wondering what I'm reading on the computer so I read her the OP's question and she said "Isn't that normal" She does know about towing, she use to drive our F350 stake pulling a 18' trailer when she helped with my landscaping business.
 
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